Kirov Ballet in Orange County

CaptionKirov Ballet in Orange County

Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

The Kirov Ballet's Ekaterina Kondaurova, praised in a Times review for investing her own personality into familiar assignments, performs as the serene Lady Dryad in "Don Quixote" as Vladimir Ponomarev portrays the knight of the title. Though the work rarely gets respect, The TImes' reviewer...

The Kirov Ballet's Ekaterina Kondaurova, praised in a Times review for investing her own personality into familiar assignments, performs as the serene Lady Dryad in "Don Quixote" as Vladimir Ponomarev portrays the knight of the title. Though the work rarely gets respect, The TImes' reviewer... (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Konstantin Zverev, as Espada, commands the eye at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in a Kirov performance of "Don Quixote." The company also is performing "Giselle" during its stay in Costa Mesa.

Konstantin Zverev, as Espada, commands the eye at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in a Kirov performance of "Don Quixote." The company also is performing "Giselle" during its stay in Costa Mesa. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Stanislav Burov, as Sancho Panza, floats above a sea of hands in "Don Quixote" -- evidence that this work is about keeping an audience entertained. And though high art is often perceived as tainted when it entertains, reviewer Laura Bleiberg found that the Kirov approaches it with no such...

Stanislav Burov, as Sancho Panza, floats above a sea of hands in "Don Quixote" -- evidence that this work is about keeping an audience entertained. And though high art is often perceived as tainted when it entertains, reviewer Laura Bleiberg found that the Kirov approaches it with no such... (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Olesia Novikov brings a time-defying balance and a playful spirit to her portrayal of Kitri. "Don Quixote" is the working-class, comedic love story of Kitri, daughter of an innkeeper, and Basil the barber -- as well as an excuse for two hours and 40 minutes of bravura solos, pseudo-folk dances,...

Olesia Novikov brings a time-defying balance and a playful spirit to her portrayal of Kitri. "Don Quixote" is the working-class, comedic love story of Kitri, daughter of an innkeeper, and Basil the barber -- as well as an excuse for two hours and 40 minutes of bravura solos, pseudo-folk dances,... (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)